University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Fall At Illinois, 59-49
2/4/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Illinois defeated Minnesota 59-49 this evening in Big Ten action at Assembly Hall in Champaign, Ill. Illinois held the Gophers to just one field goal for over 13 minutes in the second half and went on a 23-6 run to start the half to key the victory. Minnesota saw its two-game conference win streak end and fell to 9-14, 3-6 in the Big Ten. Illinois improved to 5-5 in the Big Ten and 17-8 overall. Dan Coleman led the Gophers with 13 points.
After hitting 10 three-pointers apiece in consecutive wins over Penn State and Northwestern, Minnesota went ice cold from behind the arc, making just 3-18 (17 percent). The Gophers turned the ball over just 11 times but could not overcome a 31 percent shooting effort from the field (17-54). Illinois shot 41 percent for the night (22-54) and was 7-19 from three-point range.
After the Gophers trimmed the Illinois lead to just four at the half on a Limar Wilson three-point play, Minnesota appeared to have momentum heading in the second frame but Illinois took it way almost immediately. Illinois went on a 23-6 run to open the second half to blow open the game. The Gophers managed just one field goal on a Jon Williams put back of a Jamal Abu-Shamala miss with 16:21 on the clock during the Illinois run that lasted over 13 minutes. Minnesota opened the half 1-13 from the field. A Coleman 15-foot jumper finally ended the skid with 7:29 on the clock and Minnesota trailed 52-33.
The Gophers finally came to life after the Coleman hoop, who scored the next six points. A Kevin Payton trey pulled the Gophers within 14 with 4:48 left at 54-40 and Lawrence McKenzie made two free throws to close the deficit to 12 with 4:06 left. After Rich McBride missed the front end of a 1-and-1 situation, McKenzie drained a three to trim the Illini lead to single-digits at 54-45. The trey capped a 14-2 Gopher run. McBride made two free throws on Illinois' next possession but Williams answered on a putback to keep the deficit at nine. Trent Meachem put Illinois back up 11 with 1:54 left with a jumper. Minnesota was able to get the deficit back to nine on one more occasion but couldn't pull any closer.
After Illinois opened the game 7-2, the Gophers scored the next seven points on a three-point play by Dan Coleman and baskets by Lawrence McKenzie and Brandon Smith to lead 9-7. Illinois mounted a small run to take a 15-13 lead with 10:28 left in the half but Limar Wilson scored consecutive baskets to give the Gophers a 17-15 edge. Jamar Smith and Kevin Payton traded three-pointers and Minnesota led 20-18 with 8:06 on the clock before Illinois went on an 8-0 run to lead 26-20 with 4:49 remaining. Another Jamar Smith trey gave Illinois a 29-22 lead but Wilson stole an Illini pass and took it the other way for a layup and was fouled. Wilson made the free throw and the Gophers trailed by just four at 29-25 at halftime.
Williams had another strong outing for the Gophers, scoring 10 points to go with eight rebounds. McKenzie added nine points and Payton scored eight. After scoring a career-high 19 to key the Gophers' win at Northwestern on Wednesday, Abu-Shamala was held scoreless on 0-7 shooting.
Four Illinois players scored in double figures, led by McBride and Smith with 13 apiece.
Minnesota returns to action on Wednesday night when it hosts Iowa at Williams Arena.
